Weekend of warm, wet weather for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Temperatures are again expected to stay warmer than seasonal normals this weekend, but will be accompanied by more rain as well.

Environment Canada is calling for highs to hit 10 to 12 Celsius throughout the valley this weekend while overnight lows range from 4 to 7 C tonight, March 4, and Saturday night. Sunday night the temperatures is expected to drop down to 0 C, still above the seasonal normal high of -1 C. The seasonal normal high for this time of year is 7 C. Record highs are in the mid- to high-teens.

In Vernon and Kelowna a mix of sun and clouds is expected today and tomorrow, along with showers overnight through tomorrow morning. Rain is expected to begin again Saturday evening and last through Sunday.

Penticton has a similar forecast, though the weather office is calling for just a 60 per cent chance of showers tonight and early tomorrow morning, followed by periods of rain beginning Saturday night through Sunday. Winds are also expected to reach gusts of 60 kilometres per hour this afternoon.

If some winter fun is in your plans for the weekend, expect temperatures of near 0 C at Big White and Silver Star all weekend, along with flurries today and Sunday and snow in the late afternoon Saturday.

The warm temperatures coupled with new precipitation has the forecasters at Avalanche Canada calling for moderate to considerable risk of avalanche throughout Interior ranges today, with the risk increasing to high at some elevation levels Saturday and Sunday. Forecasters note storm slabs are highly reactive to human triggering right now.

Currently Drive B.C. is reporting slippery sections on Highway 1 from the Shuswap to the Alberta border with fog in several areas, including the North Okangan and Shuswap, and compact snow and slushy sections on the Okanagan Connector.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior